Extendable attachment for luggage



Sept. 27, 1966 J. w. WARNER, JR 3,275,336

EXTENDABLE ATTACHMENT FOR LUGGAGE Filed Jan. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i A {L a3 35 3e '1 3 39 Inventor John W. Warner, Jr. fl ,A 6M :fl'Hor'ne-gs Sept. 27, 1966 J, w. WARNER, JR 3,275,336

EXTENDABLE ATTACHMENT FOR LUGGAGE Filed Jan. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 law .4 "W 1 W 1 M W El Fig.6

Invento r 5 & @MMA Z iH'i'ornegs John W. WcImer,Jr.

United States Patent 3,275,336 EXTENDABLE ATTACHMENT FOR LUGGAGE John W. Warner, Jr., 717 Keith Ave., Waukegan, Ill. Filed Jan. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 341,312 10 Claims. (Cl. 280-4324) The present invention relates generally to an attachment for baggage and more particularly to an extension handle for traveling bags, such as suit cases and similar hand luggage, which are provided with rollers or other bearing means on a lower surface thereof.

Heretofore it has been proposed to provide the lower supporting surface of baggage with a plurality of casters, rollers, or slides which permits readily moving the baggage along the supporting surface, such as a station platform, floor or street surface without lifting the baggage from the supporting surface. Baggage of the above type has also frequently been provided with attachments which facilitate pushing or pulling the baggage along the supporting surface while the baggage remains supported by rollers or other bearing means. The baggage attachments which have been suggested heretofore for the most part have been cumbersome, have an unattractive appearance, and serve no useful purpose when the baggage is being carried in a normal manner.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a baggage with an improved extension attachment which facilitates movement of the baggage along a supporting surface without lifting the baggage.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an extension handle for baggage which is also usable for carrying the baggage.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an extension handle for baggage which can be converted from an extension to a carrying handle and from a carrying to an extension handle almost instantaneously by one hand operation.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a retractable extension handle for baggage which gives the appearance of being a conventional carrying handle when in retracted position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide baggage with improved means for moving said baggage along a supporting surface.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description and claims to follow when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a piece of luggage having an improved attachment embodying the present invention in an extended position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the attachment of FIG. 1 with the attachment in retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary verticalsectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a portion of the attachment of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view partially in vertical section;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the baggage of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view partially in section showing a bearing means mounted on the lower surface of the baggage shown in FIG. 6.

The improved baggage of the present invention comprises in the preferred form illustrated in the drawing, a piece of conventional hand luggage 10 having spaced lateral walls -11, 11', a bottom wall 12, and a top or upper wall 13. The bottom wall 12 is provided with a plurality of supports or bearing means 14 having low frictional resistance which facilitates moving the luggage "ice along a supporting surface. Suitable closure means 15 are provided to hold the luggage 10 in closed position.

The top or upper Wall 13 of the luggage is provided with a hand engageable extension attachment which in the preferred form comprises in combination a handle grip member 16 secured to a handle base plate 17. The handle base plate 17 has secured to the opposite ends thereof, preferably by a hinged connection, extension arm assemblies 20, 20'. The extension arm assemblies 20, 20' have the lower ends thereof pivotally secured to the upper wall 13 of the luggage 10. The extension arm assemblies 20, 20' preferably comprise at least two sections which are interconnected so as to permit increasing and decreasing the length of each of the extension arm sections Within predetermined limits.

In the preferred form illustrated the extension arm assemblies 20, 20 are comprised of extension sleeve sections 21, 21' secured by means of a hinged connection to opposite ends of the base plate 17 and telescoping extension arm members 22, 22 arranged in slidable telescopic relationship with said extension sections 21, 21'. The lower end of each of the arm members 22, 22' is fixedly pivotally secured to the upper wall 13 of the luggage, preferably by a hinged connection to one of the anchor plates 27, 27, which is riveted or otherwise fixedly secured to the upper wall 13. The anchor plates 27, 27' are preferably spaced inwardly from the opposite ends of the upper wall 13.

In the preferred form of the invention, each of the extension sleeve sect-ions 21, 21 is comprised of a generally rectangular tubular section adapted to slidably receive therein one of the arm members 22, 22 and having the inner walls 23 thereof provided with a longitudinal slot 24 defined by spaced flanges 25, 25', as best shown in FIG. 4. An adjustable stop member 26, such as a spring loaded bar, is adapted to be mounted between said spaced wall sections 25, 25' to limit the outward movement of the extension sections 21, 21' relative to the arm members 22, 22', respectively, as will be described hereinafter. The bar 26 is preferably capable of being mounted in suitable slots 26a formed in the sleeve sections 21, 21 at several positions intermediate the ends so that the extension arm assemblies 20, 20 can be adjusted to various heights above the wall 13 to accommodate diiferent arm lengths.

The extension arm members 22, 22 are formed preferably of generally rectangular tubular sections or bar sections of smaller dimensions than sleeve sections 21, 21' so as to be slidable therein. Each of the arm members 22, M are provided with a transversely outwardly extending flange 28 formed at the upper end and having a width which enables it to be longitudinally slidable within the slot 24. The flange 28 is adapted to engage the stop member 26 when the latter is in position intermediate the ends of the extension sections 21, 21. The opposite lateral surfaces 29, 29' of each of the arm members 22, 22' are also provided in thepreferred form with a spring detent means 30, '30 at one or more spaced points intermediate the ends thereof. The spring detent means 30, '30 are positioned so that they engage the end of the sleeve sections 21, 21' when the end flanges 28, 28 of the arm members 22, 22, respectively, are in engagement with a stop member 26. It will be apparent that the spring detent means 30, 30', when in the above described engagement, maintains the handle grip member :16 in its extended position until such time as a downwardly pressure is applied to the handle grip member 16. When a positive downwardly pressure is applied to the handle grip member 16, the sleeve sections 21, 21 ride over the spring detent means 30, 30 and permits the extension arm assemblies 20, 20' to be moved into a retracted or lower position. A spring detent similar to detent means 30 is preferably provided .foreach position of adjustment of the stop member 26 or, if desired, the spring detent means. can be adjustably mounted on each of the arm members 22, 22'.

The handle base place 17 is provided with a latch means 35 which can be of any desired type but which in the form illustrated comprises a spring biased slide. 36 having engaging members 38 extending downwardly through apertures in the base plate 17. forming a releasable locking engagement witha latch plate member 39 which is securely fastened to the upper surface of the wall 13 intermediate the ends thereof, as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing. The handle grip member 16 with the extension arm assemblies 20, 20' in the retracted locked position, as shown in FIG. 3, is in a position which permits the luggage being carried in the conventional manner by holding the handle means 16 with one hand. If desired, additional means can be provided for securing the base plate !17 to the latch plate member 39. t

The bearing means 14 which are secured to the lower surface 12 of the luggage 10, preferably adjacent the four corners thereof, can be comprised of any type of bearing which will permit readily moving the luggage 10 along a support surface with a minimum of resistance and in the preferred embodiment, as best shown in FIG. 7, comprises a stud member 40 having the inner end 41 thereof permanently secured to the lower wall 12 and extend downwardly perpendicular thereto. The outer end 42 of the stud member 40 is provided with a smooth spherical concave surface which slidably retains therein a spherical steel ball 44. The outer surface of the stud member :40: intermediate the ends thereof is preferably provided with a threaded section 45. The threaded section 45 has mounted thereon a sleeve member 46 having an interior threaded j section 47. The threaded sections 45 and 47 operatively interengage -to permit axial adjustment of the'sleeve member 46 from'a position wherein the lower end of the sleeve member is withdrawn upwardly to permit theiball 44 to. extend beyond the end of the sleeve 46 to another position of adjustment wherein the sleeve member 46 extends axially beyond the end of the ball 44 so that the ball 44 is held out-of rolling contact with a supporting surface. The sleeve member 46 is also preferably provided with closed" and open stops to hold the sleeve either in retracted or extended position, as desired. I

While the specific form of the invention illustrated in the drawing shows a conventional piece of hand luggage. with the novel extension attachment of the present 111- vention mounted thereon, it should be understood that 'the present invention can be used with any type of baggage or luggage, including trunks, where it isdeslred to move the baggage or luggage along a supporting surface without lifting the baggage or luggage. Also, other bearing means in place of the means specifically shown can be provided on the lower surface of the baggage or lug-gage, including casters, slides, roller bearings or other forms of ball bearings.

I claim: I

'1..=In a hand luggage having bearing means on a lower wall surface to facilitate moving said luggage along a supporting surface, an extension attachment secured to longi- 'tudinally spaced anchor means fixedly mounted on a wall of said luggage opposite said lower wall surface which comprises; spaced arm members with each of said arm 5 members being hingeably secured at one end to one of said anchor means, each said arm member having an extension section in telescopic slidable engagement therewith and having one end extendable beyond the said arm member to a predetermined limit, each said 'arm memher and each of said extension section being normally held in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said wall and in close proximity thereto, and a hand grip means hingeably secured to the extension sections; whereby said hand grip means can be substantially elevated from a position of close proximity to said wall into a position substantially above the level of said wall when said arm members 'are hingeably moved away from said wall.

2. A hand luggage as in claim 1,. wherein each of said arm members has an outwardly extending flange formed at the outer end thereof, and each of said extension sections has a groove formed therein to slidably receivesaid adapted to engage with said extension section associated therewith when inan extended position for limiting the relative movement therebetween and to support said extension section in an extended position until a positive downwardly pressure is applied thereto; whereby said hand grip means can be maintained in an elevated position substantially above the level of said wall until a positive downwardly pressure is applied thereto.

4. A hand luggage as inclaim 1,'wherein said hand grip means is provided with a latch means which forms a detachable locking engagement with said upper wall of said luggage; wherebysaidhand grip ,means canbeused as a handle to lift said luggage when said hand grip means is in locking engagement withsaid upper wall.

5. A hand luggagelas in claim 1, wherein said bearing device comprises; a generally cylindrical stud member which is attached at the inner end thereof to said lower wall surface and which extends outwardly from said lower wall surface, said stud member having a roller slidably mounted on the outer end-thereof, a portion of said stud member which extends outwardly havinga threaded lateral surface to receive thereon a sleeve member, said sleeve member-having a threaded section formed on a surface thereof and adapted to form a threadable engagement with said threaded lateral surface, whereby said sleeve member can be threadably moved axially, relative to said stud member and said roller from a position intermediate the ends of said roller to a position where .the

termined limits, each of said spaced extension armas 'semblies also having the lowermost of said rigid sections secured to an upper wall surface of said luggage and said rigid sections having engaging means which 'operatively coact with another of said rigid sections to limit the out-.

ward movement of said hand engageable'means, and,

said hand engageable means adapted to be held in close proximity with said upper wall surface in a plane substantially parallelto said wall surface when said extension 'arm assemblies are in a fully retracted position of adjustment and said hand engageable means adaptedto being 1 releasably held in an elevated position above saidupperwall surface in another position of adjustment 'of said extension arm assemblies. 7. An extension attachment for luggageas in claim 6, I

wherein a first said rigid section and another of said rigid sections which slidably interengages with said first rigid section are provided with releasable interengaging means which'are adapted to releasably hold the said n'gid sections in one of a plurality of interengaging positionsf whereby the length of the said arm assemblies can be adjusted to one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

8. An extension attachment for luggage as in claim 6, wherein a first said rigid section and another of said rigid sections slidably interengaging with said first rigid section have releasable interengaging stop means in the form of spring detent means which releasably hold the slidably interengaging said rigid sections in one of a plurality of interengaging positions.

9. An extension attachment for luggage as in claim 6 wherein a first said rigid section is provided with an adjustable stop member adapted to engage with a fixed stop member on another of said rigid sections slidably interengaging therewith and said adjustable stop member adapted to being disposed at a plurality of positions intermediate the ends of said first rigid section.

10. An extension attachment for luggage as in claim 6, wherein a first said rigid section is provided with flanges along the lateral edges thereof, said flanges having oppositely disposed openings formed therein, and an adjustable stop member adapted to be disposed transversely between said flanges and engageable in said openings of said flanges, thereby providing an abutment for engaging a fixed stop member formed on another said rigid section slida-bly engageable with said first rigid section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

C. C. PARSONS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A HAND LUGGAGE HAVING BEARING MEANS ON A LOWER WALL SURFACE TO FACILITATE MOVING SAID LUGGAGE ALONG A SUPPORTING SURFACE, AN EXTENSION ATTACHMENT SECURED TO LONGITUDINALLY SPACED ANCHOR MEANS FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON A WALL OF SAID LUGGAGE OPPOSITE SAID LOWER WALL SURFACE WHICH COMPRISES; SPACED ARM MEMBERS WITH EACH OF SAID ARM MEMBERS BEING HINGEABLY SECURED AT ONE END TO ONE OF SAID ANCHOR MEANS, EACH SAID ARM MEMBER HAVING AN EXTENSION SECTION IN TELESCOPIC SLIDABLE ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH AND HAVING ONE END EXTENDABLE BEYOND THE SAID ARM MEMBER TO A PREDETERMINED LIMIT, EACH SAID ARM MEMBER AND EACH OF SAID EXTENSION SECTION BEING NORMALLY 